canfield



(No Model.)

P. B. CANI'IELD.

FOLDING GRATE.

Patented Jan. 14, 1896.V

vUNTTED STATES PATENT PlllLlP l5. (QAXFIELD, OF CORTLAND, NEWT YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T() GEORGE S. llDlVAR'DS, OF SAME PLACE.

FOLDING CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,985, dated January 14, 1896.

Application filed June 22, 1895. Serial No. 553,702. (No model.)

To all whom; may concern.-

Be it known thatl, PHILIP B. CANFIELD, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Cortland, in the county of Cortland and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Folding Crate, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention aims to provide an improved folding cra-tc for use in the transpoi-tation of fruits, vegetables, eggs, clothing, and other eommod ities usually shipped stored in cases.

The primary object of the invention is the construction of a crate of this character in Which'the parts will at all times be connected, and which when folded will occupy a mini mum amount of space, and Which can be readily and easily folded and unfolded according as itis desired to set the case up for use or reduce it to a compact form for reshipment or storing.

The improvement consists of the novel formation of the crate Which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth and claimed, and which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure'l is a perspective view of a crate constructed in accordance with the present invention and as it Will appear when set up for use. Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively a transverse and longitudinal section thereof. Fig. l shows the crate in a knockdown or folded condition.

The crate will be provided in different sizes and may have any required dimensions according to`the commodity to be packed therein, and will. comprise four sides, a top and a bottom, the sides being composed of a series of slats l, which are overlapped at the angles or corners of the crate, and which are secured together by Wires 2 passingthroughregistering openings in the slats at their points of crossing, the projecting end portions of the Wires being bent so as to prevent their withdrawal atterbeing properly positioned. The end port-ions of the top and bottom slats are strengthened and protected by metal bands 3 which are wrapped thereabout so as to prevent the said end portions from splitting` or cracking. The top and the bottom are construct-ed alike and comprise slats i Which are connected near their ends by cleats 5 and intermediate of their ends bystrap-irons 6, the bight ends of the vlatter forming hinge connections With the body of the crate. The end slats 'Y are made stouter and heavier than the remaining slats l and have reduced portions S to receive the bight ends of the strap-irons G, and these reduced portions S are circular so as to admit of thc free movements of the top and bottom when opening and closing the same.

It will be understood that there may be as many hinge connections between the top and bottom and body of the crate as desired, the number depending largely upon the dimensions of the said. crate. The upper and lower portions of the strap-irons are riveted or other- Wise secured together and their bight ends embrace the reduced portions S of the end slats 7. The cleats 5 are disposed to enter the open end of the crate and touch the inner sides of the adjacent slats so as to brace the crate and prevent collapsing of the same. Hooked fastenings 9 extend through the outer end portions of the cleats 5 and the end slats 4, and their bent ends are adapted to be turned so as to engage with the slats opposite to the cleats 5, thereby retaining the top and the bottom in proper position and in locked relation.

The top and the bottom are hinged at diagonally-opposite corners of the crate and are adapted to fold upon the sides thereof from opposite directions, and when these parts are folded the body of the crate can be reduced by pressing the diagonally-opposite corners together, thereby causing the sides to appreach, as clearly indicated in Fig. L

By having the top and the bottom hinged to the body of the crate there is no danger of these parts being misplaced or lost and no time is lost in unfolding' and placing the crate in position for use, which would be the case if the parts were separated and had to be assembled.

The style and pattern of the crate are immaterial to the principle of the invention and will depend upon the nature an d purpose for which the same is designed. Therefore it is to be understood that in thev embodiment oi the invention various changes in the form,

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proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the Vadvantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- A folding crate constructed substantially as herein shown and described, composed of slatted ends, sides7 bottom and top, the terminals of the extreme slats of the sides and ends being reinforced by metal bands and receiving the Wires by means of which the overlapping terminal portions of the side and end slats are connected together, cleats attached to the top and bottom slats and engaging With the adjacent end slats to brace the crate when set up, strap irons folded and secured to the slats of the top and bottom and embracing in their bights reduced portions of diagonallydisposed side slats to which the said parts are hinged, and hooked fastenings at the free ends of the top and bottom to engage under the inner edge of the slats adjacent to the said free ends of the top and bottom to secure the latter in place, substantially as specilied.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afxed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

PHILIP B. OANFIELD.

IVitnesses:

GEORGE S. EDWARDS, J. WELLS DANIELS. 

